New World Emigration, based in Cape Town, says it has seen a 1 500% increase in the number of inquiries and applications from South Africans over the past five days.
Director of the company, Robert Raglus, says his team has been overwhelmed by the emotional calls from South Africans, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, who are desperate to leave the country as a result of the violent civil unrest.
Raglus says never before has his agency experienced such.
“We have arguably never seen a reaction to any political or economic event, as what we are seeing now with the civil unrest. We are just inundated, probably a 1500% increase in the number of inquiries, not just the number, but the tone of people that are calling in, there is definitely desperation. There is definitely fear of what’s transpiring in the country. People that were on the fence are actually now committing to starting their emigration process,” he says.
The looting and violence are a result of the incarceration of former president Jacob Zuma who was sentenced to 15 months in jail for contempt of court.
Concern about jobs, livelihoods following looting sprees and violence:
